About Carrie Lafferty

A Physical Therapist, Guild Certified Feldenkrais PractitionerCM, and Master Healing Qi Gong Teacher, I have been practicing the healing arts for nearly 30 years. Originally, I trained as a Physical Therapist, quickly to discover that my role as a healer/guide was going to require a more integrative and holistic paradigm. I maintain a full-time, self-designed healing arts practice in Seattle, and offer regular classes and workshops.

Additionally, I recently released The Walking Way: Stepping Into Awareness , where I weave together the very old Chinese practice known as Qi Gong with a 20th-century system of movement education called The Feldenkrais Method®. The Walking Way is a truly original method you can use to increase well-being while cultivating awareness.

I consider myself to be a continuous seeker of a fully embodied life. My personal practices include 14 years of Qi Gong and Tai Chi practice, 14 years of core Shamanism study, over 20 years of mindfulness meditation, and a lifetime of respect for and connection to the sacred cycles of Mother Nature.

As is the case with most healers, my studies influence my approach to healing. I believe that healing is truly transformational, even alchemical. Truly alchemical healing involves spontaneous and concurrent change on all levels—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Change must be rooted in support and respect for the sacredness of Nature, as well as for our environment and for our communities.

I believe that each of us is on a path of continual growth. We are here to become more vital and embodied beings. I believe that my experience with Feldenkrais, with Qi Gong and Tai Chi, with Mindfulness and meditation, and with Earth-based Shamanic practices can assist you to develop your sense of curiosity for and deep connection to all of Life. This allows you to pursue a personal, graceful learning experience as you become a more vital, resilient and embodied human.

V. Shamanic Studies: My foundational study in the innate following of Mother Nature’s cycles began when I was a child, in the dirt of my grandfather’s garden. To this day, I nurture a permaculture garden at in my home. My formal training includes:

In my spare time, I can likely be found digging in my garden, carrying a pack in the remote wilderness, or in deep connection with Earth’s community of others. I derive spiritual renewal, creative discovery and an embodied connection to the flow of Life through these life processes and events.

"I was struck by how deeply you helped me notice subtle and not so subtle habit patterns in my everyday movements. The instructions were both precise and open. They created a powerful movement based mindfulness meditation that went beyond a simple set of instructions into helping me cultivate my own inner awareness of my body in motion. Your multifaceted integration of mindfulness meditation, Feldenkrais, and QiGong created an extraordinary set of teachings that would help anyone become more alert, relaxed, and agile in their body and mind."
—Denis M.

"Thank you, Carrie, for your incredible talent to hold a gentle, flexible, informed, purposeful, unified energy within any space you choose to create. I feel so fortunate to receive from your innate ability to share what you find useful and meaningful on your own journey. I find myself so responsive to the blended body of wisdom that you present throughout the many services you offer, and I feel your collective lifelong learning shine especially brightly during the unique combination of practices presented at the seasonal workshops. It is amazing to soak up five hours in one day that leaves me feeling guided and replenished throughout the entire season ahead."
—Jessica W.

"It is not too extreme to say that Carrie has changed my life. As a middle-aged person I know that the decades of living I have ahead of me will be more pleasant and less painful, because I have learned how to work with my body and be actively aware of my habits. After joint replacement surgery Carrie guided me to change my gait, to develop a new way of thinking about movement, and to improve my overall body ease and posture." -Nancy C.

"Thank you for helping me to remember the connection. THE connection.
Come ye, come all seekers of gifts from nature. Open your hearts, your mind, your body, your spirit. The blessings are everywhere! Carrie offers a workshop to help us find our inner healing voice. Your talking is a pointing and I'm leaning forwards.... So the workshop was a combination of techniques to assist in the pointing.....To assist us in the remembering....
Remember who I am. I am not a human with a long to do list. I am a human who is a member of a greater nature. A greater consciousness than my everyday task list. So the workshop was an opportunity to momentarily let go of certain daily duties, remember my connection, see the gift, accept the gift and take it home."
—Teresa B.

Contact me for more information about Feldenkrais and Qi Gong sessions and workshops. I would love to hear from you. - Carrie
e. Carrie@MovementFromWithin.net
t. 206.459.1773

Feldenkrais®, Feldenkrais Method®, Functional Integration®(FI), ATM® and Awareness Through Movement®, are registered service marks; Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner(CM) is a certification mark of the Feldenkrais Guild® of North America.